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Iqbal Singh (spiritual leader)

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Baba
Iqbal Singh
Baru Sahib
Born
Iqbal Singh Kingra

(1926-05-01)1 May 1926
Bharyal Lehri, Punjab, British Raj
Died29 January 2022(2022-01-29) (aged 95)
Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, India
NationalityIndian
EducationMaster of Science (M.sc.) (Agriculture)
Occupation(s)Sikh Leader, retired Government official
Known forBaru Sahib and Kalgidhar trust
Websitebarusahib.org

Iqbal Singh Kingra (1 May 1926 – 29 January 2022) was an Indian socio-spiritual leader of the Sikh community.[1][2][3] He was the Founder President of The Kalgidhar Trust, The Kalgidhar Society and Baru Sahib.[4][5] He was considered to be one of the most influential Sikhs in the world.[6][7] He was awarded the Sikh Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. In 2018 he was bestowed with Shiromani Panth Rattan (precious jewel of the Sikh community) by Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib. In 2022, he was conferred with the Padma Shri by the Government Of India for his contributions in the field of social work.

Early life

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Singh was born to Sanwal Singh and wife Gulab Kaur in Bharyal Lehri, Gurdaspur district of Punjab.[8] Young Iqbal Singh was particularly fascinated by the lives of Dhruva and Bhakta prahlada on the one hand and Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, the younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh on the other hand.[9] While in 6th grade, he was touched by the lives of Sanghamitta and Mahinda, the daughter and son of Ashoka.[10][11][8]

Education and career

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Singh completed a Bachelor of Science Agriculture in 1949 from Lyallpur, Pakistan. In Pakistan he met Teja Singh Ji and Attar Singh and was influenced by their teachings. He later became disciple of Teja Singh Ji.[12][13] Singh was highly impressed by their lives and teachings.[14] He remained in constant touch with Teja Singh while pursuing his master's degree in Agriculture science.[12][15]

Iqbal Singh later worked for the Himachal government.[12] He revealed the hitherto known Tapo Bhoomi at Baru Sahib, which was established in 1956.[13] Later in 1982, Iqbal Singh founded and registered The Kalgidhar Trust and later The Kalgidhar Society.[3]

Works

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Iqbal Singh retired in 1986 from his job with the Himachal government.[4] He moved permanently to Baru Sahib after his retirement and immediately started working on Brahm Vidya Kendra.[13] He started the Akal Academy assisted by Khem Singh Gill, with only five students as a one-room school.[16][17] The school later evolved as a 10+2 English-medium private school, affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi. This school is now affiliated with the International Baccalaureate for IB Primary Years Programme.[18]

Apart from the educational programs, 129 low-cost schools and two private universities were established by Iqbal Singh at Baru Sahib in Himachal and at several other places in Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.

Iqbal Singh has been working with the support of beneficiaries and volunteers in the direction of imparting education in the rural marginalised areas of North India.[19] He believed that rural children are excluded from the mainstream and cannot contribute to the nation's growth, hence the drive to “educate-enshrine-empower” these large masses is necessary.[20][21][22][23]

He established Eternal University at Baru Sahib in 2008[24][25][26][27] and Akal University,[28] Guru ki Kashi at Damdama Sahib in Punjab in 2015.[29] His biography by Benedict Parmanand was released in April 2017 by former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.

Death

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Singh died in Baru Sahib on 29 January 2022, at the age of 95.[30]

Books

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  • Sikh Sidhant (2001)
  • Sikh Faith (2014)[31]
  • Tribute to Saint Teja Singh (2015)
  • Turban - The Pride and Honour of India (2008)[32]

Biography

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  • Benedict Parmanand, Mission to Reboot Punjab through Value-based Education (2016)[33]

Awards and recognition

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  • In January 2011 he attended a Workshop on Global Development and Institutions Inspired by Faith in South and Central Asia in Dhaka organised by Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, Georgetown University, Washington, USA[8][34]
  • In November 2013 he was adjudged as the fifth most influential Sikh in the world by World Sikh Awards UK.[35]
  • In April 2014 he was awarded a Citation for being an Outstanding Individual, one which is worthy of the esteem of the country, the community, and the Great State of New York in 2014 by the New York City State Assembly for promoting tolerance to all people irrespective of culture or race.[36]
  • In December 2014, he attended The Alliance of Religions: Peace Summit of the Americas as a guest of honour and signed the symbolic Peace Agreement[37]
  • In March 2016 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by NICER (National Institute of Cleanliness Education Research).
  • Also, Baba Iqbal Singh has been awarded the Sikh Lifetime Achievement Award by Top Sikh 100, London on 19 November 2016.[38]
  • Helped fight the Turban[39] ban by FIBA International[40]
  • In July 2018, he was bestowed with "Shiromani Panth Rattan" by Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib.[41]
  • In 2022, he was conferred with the Padma Shri by the Government Of India for his contributions in the field of social work.[42]

Controversies

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Iqbal Singh has been criticised for his take on the early regimen of his students, vegetarian habits and simple dress code of the school. In the institution established by him, students are punished even with expulsion if caught defiling their hair or beards as per Sikh tenets.[43]

Akal Academy became the center of a controversy in 2008.[44] There was an allegation that the 'Turban' was being imposed on them.[45] Akal Academy later replied to the controversy explaining that Sikh students were expected to wear the Turban and that children from other faiths needed to cover their heads with a simple patka (piece of cloth as a headgear).[46][39]

References

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  1. ^ Kaur, Jasleen. "How one man is using education to treat Punjab's drug menace".
  2. ^ Georgetown, University. "A Discussion with Baba Iqbal Singh, President of the Kalgidhar Society, India".
  3. ^ a b Kaur, Komalpreet. "A Living Legend!- Baba Iqbal Singh of Baru Sahib on Mission Divine!" (PDF). barusahib.org. Sikh Review.
  4. ^ a b ""Baru Sahib" - on the lines of Nalanda: Article by TN Kaul in The Tri…". 25 November 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ "Centre of excellence in nature's lap Gitanjali Sharma". Retrieved 19 July 2003.
  6. ^ "Manmohan Singh ranked world's most powerful Sikh, Montek second". Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  7. ^ "THE SIKH 100 LIST". Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  8. ^ a b c "A Discussion with Baba Iqbal Singh, President of the Kalgidhar Society, India". berkleycenter.georgetown.edu. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  9. ^ BaruSahibHP (21 March 2016), Face to Face Baba Iqbal Singh Ji - Baru Sahib, retrieved 8 January 2017
  10. ^ BaruSahibHP (24 May 2014), Baba Iqbal Singh Ji shares his life experiences at Get Punjabi Interview!, retrieved 8 January 2017
  11. ^ BaruSahibHP (19 December 2014), Interview of Baba Iqbal Singh Ji Baru Sahib wale by Sikh Memories, retrieved 8 January 2017
  12. ^ a b c "Sant Teja Singh - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia". sikhiwiki.org. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  13. ^ a b c "Sant Baba Attar Singh - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia". sikhiwiki.org. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  14. ^ BaruSahibHP (8 July 2015), Remembering his Mentor, Sant Teja Singh Ji - Baba Iqbal Singh Ji, retrieved 8 January 2017
  15. ^ BaruSahibHP (12 August 2016), Gurmat Vichar | Baba Iqbal Singh Ji | SANT TEJA SINGH JI | Gurdwara Baru Sahib |, retrieved 8 January 2017
  16. ^ "Saints' teachings key to state's revival, says Manmohan Singh".
  17. ^ "Gurdwara Baru Sahib - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia". sikhiwiki.org. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  18. ^ "India Today - Simply Punjabi The Home Coming". 12 January 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. ^ "How Canadian Canola Oil is Educating India's Poor - Jivo Canola Oil &…". 10 November 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. ^ "The Speaking Tree". 12 January 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. ^ "Article on Akal Academy - Baru Sahib in Living India". 29 November 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  22. ^ "Article in GovernanceNow on Punjab's midnight children who are victim…". 25 November 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  23. ^ "Fight of fancy~ from the paddy Fields of Ratia to CASA Colorado". 12 January 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  24. ^ "The Tribune". 12 January 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  25. ^ "Northern voices". 12 January 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  26. ^ "Akal Academies". 12 January 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  27. ^ "Sikh network". 12 January 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  28. ^ "Akal University - A University with a difference (HT)". 11 November 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  29. ^ "Sant Baba Iqbal Singh Ji and Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ji speak on Vaisakhi". writtenepisodes.com. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  30. ^ Singh, JK. "Nonagenarian Baba Iqbal Singh, whose was conferred Padma Shri award passes away in Baru Sahib". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  31. ^ "An Epitome of Inter-Faith – an apt message for the modern generation!". The Kalgidhar Society, Baru Sahib. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  32. ^ "Turban - The Pride of India". 23 June 2014. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  33. ^ "Baba Iqbal Singh - Mission to reboot Punjab Through Value - Based Education". vpindia.co.in. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  34. ^ "Report on Workshop 'Global Development & Role of Faith Inspired Insti…". 23 June 2014. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  35. ^ "Baba Iqbal Singh with British PM, David Cameron". 10 November 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  36. ^ "New York State Assembly Awards Citation to Baba Iqbal Singh ji, Baru …". 23 June 2014. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  37. ^ BaruSahibHP (11 December 2014), HWPL invites Baba Iqbal Singh to sign a historic PEACE AGREEMENT in Carson, Los Angeles, retrieved 8 January 2017
  38. ^ "Winners 2016". Sikh Awards. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  39. ^ a b "Turban - The Pride of India". 23 June 2014. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  40. ^ BaruSahibHP (23 August 2014), Turban is India's Pride - Baba Iqbal Singh, retrieved 8 January 2017
  41. ^ "Social activist gets Shiromani Panth Ratan award - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  42. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (25 January 2022). "Full list of Padma Awards 2022". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 January 2022. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  43. ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Haryana". tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  44. ^ Reuters Editorial. "Turban diktat kicks up row in Punjab's Sikh school". Reuters India. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  45. ^ "Punjab school orders on turban kick up row - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  46. ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Amritsar PLUS". tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
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